Chorion

(kō're-on.) [Gr., skin.] (Anat.) The external membrane covering the fœtus in utero, having a gelatinous fluid betwixt it and the amnion. Exteriorly it is vascular and shaggy, but its inner surface is smooth. (Bot.) The exterior membrane of the seed of plants. Chorley, (chor'le,) a manufacturing town of England, co. Lancaster, 9 m. S. of Preston. Pop. 15,013. Chorography, (kō-rog'rah-fe.) [From Gr. chora, a district, and gra pho, I write.] The art of delineating or describing some particular province or country. It differs from geography as a description of a particular country differs from that of the whole earth, and from topography as the description ofa country from that of a town or district. Choroid, (ko'roid.) [From Gr. chorion, leather, and eidos, appearance.) (Anat.) The coat of the eye immediately under the sclerotic a; also the inner membrane investing the brain, the pia mater, . Chorus, (kõrŭs.) [Gr. choros. ] In ancient dramatic poetry, one or more persons present on the stage during the representation, uttering an occasional commentary on the piece, preparing the audience for events that are to follow, or explaining circumstances that cannot be distinctly represented. In early times it generally consisted of quite a number of persons, whose leader was called coryphœus. In tragedy, the C. was at first the sole performer; in modern times it is wholly discontinued on the stage.-(Mus.) The union of singers or musicians for the joint performance of a musical work. C. is also the name given to a musical composition for numerous voices, either with or without accompaniment, and intended to expre the united feelings of a multitude. [s. 183]